Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Esperanto Improved’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Esperanto Improved,’ having a uniform canopy of dark pink-purple/white striped single type flowers with a yellow/green disc. The new variety exhibits medium vigor with a free branching and uniform spreading habit and good foliage presentation.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: The new Chrysanthemum variety denomination is ‘Esperanto Improved.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, and referred to by the cultivar name ‘Esperanto Improved.’

‘Esperanto Improved,’ originated from a naturally occurring whole plant mutation grown in a controlled planting of the variety ‘Esperanto’ (U.S. Plant patent application Publication No. 2003/0121087) at Valsequillo, Gran Canaria, Spain. The new variety ‘Esperanto Improved’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Esperanto Improved’ is a pot type of Chrysanthemum plant variety having dark pink purple/white striped single type flowers.

Comparison with Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Esperanto Improved’ are similar to the parent ‘Esperanto’ in plant habitat and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Esperanto Improved’ compared to plants of the parent ‘Esperanto’ in the following characteristics.

-   -   1. The new variety ‘Esperanto Improved’ produces dark         pink-purple/white single type flowers whereas the parent         ‘Esperanto’ produces paler pink/white striped single type         flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new variety ‘Esperanto Improved’ have similar         inflorescence to the plants of the parent ‘Esperanto.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Esperanto Improved’ are shown in the accompanying digital photograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usual limits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘Esperanto Improved’ grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration and described here is 53 days from commencement of Short Days.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Esperanto Improved’ is of plants grown in a greenhouse in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom in the month of February. The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variance in genotype. The commercial classification of the new variety is a pot Chrysanthemum.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperature conditions averaging about 18° C. at night and about 24° C. to 25° C. during the day under light conditions of about 5000 to 6000 foot candles. The plants respond well to the use of growth retardant, such as B9 treatment. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. The typical container size for commercial growth is 14 cm. It has been observed that the shelf life of the new variety as a pot Chrysanthemum is about 24 days with a response time of about 7.5 weeks. The new variety is suitable for growth in a temperature range of 17° C. to 28° C.

The following description is with respect to a plant produced as pot Chrysanthemum. In the description of this new Chrysanthemum variety, color values have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

Plant

-   Plant type: Pot. -   Habit: Upright and free branching. -   Height: 23 cm. -   Width: 36 cm. -   Branching characteristics: Upright and free branching. -   Length of lateral branches: 6-11 cm. -   Number of breaks from pinch: 3-5. -   Stem color: 137A. -   Response time: 53 days. -   Vigor: Medium. -   Shelf life as a pot Chrysanthemum: 24 days. -   Disease/pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed to     date. -   Growth retardant type and treatment: 3 applications of 2.5 gm/liter     B9 at 2, 21, and 28 days after sticking of unrooted cuttings.

The plants were grown for 3 weeks in Long Day conditions (20 hours of light) and then transferred to Short Day conditions (13 hours of dark).

-   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative Propagation Via Stem Cuttings.         -   Time to rooting.—12-14 days with soil temperatures of 18° C.         -   Rooting habit.—Fine and Fibrous.

Foliage

-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 8-11. -   Compound or single: Single. -   Arrangement of leaves: Alternate.     -   -   Shape of leaf.—Typically 5 lobed ovate.         -   Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 3.5-7. Length (cm): 5-10.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Attachment.—Petioled.         -   Aspect.—Slightly undulating.         -   Margin.—Palmetely lobed.         -   Surface characteristics.—Top: Slightly pubescent. Bottom:             Pubescent. -   Petiole:     -   -   Color.—137B.         -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Surface.—Slightly pubescent. -   Venation: Net prominent midvein at underside.     -   -   Color.—Upper side: Near 146D. Under side: Near 146D. -   Color:     -   -   Mature leaf, upper side.—Near 137A; under side: Near 138A.         -   Young leaf, upper side.—Near 137B; under side: Near 138B.

Flower

-   Flower appearance: Slightly cupped. -   Flower type: Single. -   Flower form: Cupped. -   Flower shape: Circular. -   Flowering habit: Cyme. -   Number of blossoms per branch: 3-5. -   Inflorescence form: Pyramidal.     -   -   Depth of fully expanded blossoms.—2 cm.         -   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms.—6-7 cm. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Number.—28-30.         -   Outer color.—Near 136C.         -   Length.—0.5-0.9 cm.         -   Width.—0.2-0.4 cm.         -   Texture/appearance.—Pubescent. -   Peduncle: Peduncle length is shortest at the terminal flower and     progressively longer moving down the stem.     -   -   Length.—2.5-10 cm.         -   Color.—Near 136C.         -   Surface.—Pubescent.         -   Habit.—Slightly curving.         -   Strength.—Medium.         -   Diameter.—0.15 cm. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—Terminal: 2-4.5 cm; Lateral: 2.5-7 cm.         -   Color.—Near 138B.         -   Surface.—Pubescent.         -   Habit.—Slightly curving.         -   Strength.—Medium. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Form/shape.—Elliptic with a tapered tip.         -   Texture/appearance.—Matte.         -   Number per flower.—25-30.         -   Length.—3-3.5 cm; Width: 0.8-1.2 cm.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Tubular.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Form/shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Texture/appearance.—Shiny.         -   Number per flower.—170-250.         -   Length.—0.3-0.6 cm; Width <0.1-0.1 cm.         -   Diameter of disc.—1.2-1.5 cm. -   Fragrance: Faint. -   Flower bud (at onset of color):     -   -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Form/shape.—Globular. -   General flower color:     -   -   1. Ray florets, upper side.—Immature: About 50% near 58B and             about 50% 155D in a lengthwise striped pattern. Mature:             About 50% near 58B and about 50% 155D in a lengthwise             striped pattern. Older/Fading: About 50% near 58C and about             50% 155D in a lengthwise striped pattern.         -   2. Ray florets, under side.—Immature: About 50% near 58B and             about 50% 155D in a lengthwise striped pattern. Mature:             About 50% near 58B and about 50% 155D in a lengthwise             striped pattern. Older/Fading: About 50% near 58C and about             50% 155D in a lengthwise striped pattern.         -   3. Disc florets.—Immature: Near 143B. Mature: Near 154B.             Older/Fading: Near 143A.         -   4. Bud.—138B. -   Flower progression with age: Flower form does not change with age     but there is a little color fading. -   Other distinguishing characteristics: Foliage remains good with age.

Reproductive Organs

-   Gynoecium present on Ray and Disc florets.     -   -   Ray florets.—         -   Pistil number: 25.         -   Stigma color.—Near 6C.         -   Stigma shape.—Forked.         -   Style color.—Near 6C.         -   Style length.—0.4 cm.         -   Disc florets.—         -   Pistil number: 60-75.         -   Stigma color.—Near 6C.         -   Stigma shape.—Forked.         -   Style color.—Near 6C.         -   Style length.—0.2 cm. -   Androecium: None observed to date. -   Fruit and seeds: None observed to date. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 